The death in Cheltenham of Brian William Clapp at the age of 87 was reported last week. Brian was a regular member of the Exeter Club in the 1960s and ‘70s, having been club champion in 1963, ’68, ’69 and ’71. He was a lecturer in Economic History at Exeter University and published several books, notably Manchester Merchants 1850 – 1939 (1956), John Owens – Manchester Merchant (1965), The University of Exeter – A History (1982) and An Environmental History of Britain Since the Industrial Revolution (1994 – Longman).
In this 1966 game he took full advantage of some loose play by a much stronger opponent. 21 year old Richard Hall from Bradford was reading law and went on to become a district judge in 1998 and British Correspondence Chess Champion and a Grandmaster of postal chess. It is taken from Dr. Dave Regis’ excellent book 100-Odd Years of Exeter Chess Club.
White: B. W. Clapp. Black: R. V. M. Hall.
Sicilian Defence – Paulsen Var. [B45]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Be3 Bb4 7.Bd3 d5 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 d4 10.exf6 dxe3 11.Qf3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 exf2+ 13.Qxf2 Qxf6 14.Qc5 preventing castling. 14…Rb8 15.Rd1 Qe7? 16.Qe5 Hitting rook and g-pawn. 16…Rb2 17.Qxg7 Qf8?? 18.Qf6 Bd7 19.Be4 Rb6 20.Qd4 Qh6 21.Qxd7+ Kf8 22.Qd6+ Kg8 22…Kg7 is no better. 23.Qg3+ 1–0 Black resigned as he could see what was to follow i.e. 23…Kf8 24.Rd8+ Ke7 25.Qc7+ Kf6 26.0–0+ and mate must follow very shortly.
The 49th Dorset Congress takes place on the weekend commencing Friday 24th October (contact: Ian Clark on 01202-536370 or e-mail dorset@bournemouthchesscongress.org.uk). If you can only spare one day that weekend there’s the Chipping Sodbury Rapidplay on the Saturday; (Contact: Graham Mill-Wilson on 07790-187-415 or e-mail tugmw@blueyonder.co.uk. Then there’s the Royal Beacon Seniors Congress in Exmouth starting on Monday 3rd November (Contact: R. H. Jones on 01395-0223340 or e-mail: jones_r53@sky.com.)
The solution to last week’s problem by A. C. White involving pawn promotion was 1.Qc4! threatening 2.Pc8=N mate, and Black’s capture with the rook to prevent this, merely allows 2.g8=N mate.
This position arose in a game earlier this year. White is the exchange and a pawn down, but can win by force. How did he do it?
White to mate by force